Automatic textile washing apparatus



NW7? 7;, 39% e. GAUBATZ 11 9 AUTOMATIC TEXTILE WASHING APPARATUS Filed Dec. ll, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l I IV V EN TOR. GEORGE G. GAUBATZ G. G. GAUATZ AUTOMATIC TEXTILE WASHING APPARATUS NM. 7, E90

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 11, 1945 INVENTOR. GEORGE G. GAUBATZ Patented Nov. 7, 1950 AUTOMATIC TEXTILE WASHING APPARATUS George G. Gaubatz, Davenport, Iowa, assignor to American Machine & Metals, Inc., East Moline, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application December 11, 1943, Serial No. 513,915

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in Automatic Textile Washing Apparatus.

It is common practice in the commercial washing of textile pieces to place them in a heap in a rotatable container, usually mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, the lower part of the container passing through a bath. This bath is usually made up of a detergent solution at some stages of the process and usually consists of plain water, or at least of a progressively diluted bath, at the rinsing stages in the process. At certain stages the bath may contain dilute solutions of bluing or other material. Commonly the cylinder is equipped with internal rib-s or their equivalents, and as the cylinder is rotated about its horizontal axis the textile pieces are immersed in the bath at intervals, the ribs lift-- ing the pieces from the bottom of the heap out of the bath and lettin them slide off onto the top of the heap. While the invention will be described as applied to a washer having a perforate cylinder adapted to revolve in a stationary shell, it will be understood as the description proceeds that the invention is also applicable to the socalled shell-less washer in which a single revolving cylinder serves to enclose both the textile pieces to be cleaned and the detergent or rinsing solution. The type of washer as commonly used in commercial. laundries employs a perforate rotatable cylinder mounted within a shell, the bath being contained within the shell and having a liquid level located below the axis of rotation of said cylinder. Said liquid level will be correlated to the size of the heap of textile pieces in the cylinder and ordinarily will be higher during the rinsing operations than during the sudsing operations. The rate of rotation of the cylinder is, according to common practice, sufficient to lift some of the textile pieces out of the bath, separating the pieces from the mass, the portion lifted out of the bath sliding off the rib that lifted it as. the angle which the rib makes with the horizontal becomes steeper. The pieces slide off the rib and fall back on top of the mass of'pieces in the bath.

The speed of rotation must, according to preferred practice, be held within rather close limits for eflicient washing because upon the speed of rotation depend the degree of intermingling of the parts of the mass of textilepieces, the height to which th particular pieces are carried, the location where they will strike when the particular of the mass of textile pieces be kept in constant 2v movement relative to each other so that each part is exposed to the bath. If it were otherwise, soil might be trapped in a tightly. closed fold which might never be exposed tothe fresh detergent of the bath.

The invention is. particularly applicable to the washing of large loads of such objects as sheets, towels, shirts and the like. The tumbling action described is designed to break up the mass of textile pieces by'separating' adjacent pieces and rearranging them. The tumbling action will separate small objects such as wash cloths or handkerchiefs, but the several parts of a large piece, such as the arms and tail of a shirt, may be carried off in opposite directions within the mass, with the result that articles like shirts tend to become intertwined. Instead of separating the pieces-of clothes, tumbling in some instances has the result of intertwining them.

The amount of tangling is related to-the speed of rotation of the cylinder, and if the speed thereof is high enough the centrifugal force generatedwill cause the work to ride around and not tumble at all. In small machines such as household machines this problem is minimized because the small capacity limits the load to only a few pieces and the speed can he held closer to that speed at which the clothes do not tend to tangle.

In commercial operation, however, elilciency of operation andthe necessity for exposing all parts of the mass to the washing action call for operating speeds at which tangling is a serious problem. Where the washing cylinder is loaded with a relatively large mass, which may weigh as much as 700 pounds when wet, the grasping of a shirt entangled with other garments and pulling it loose in unloading the washer can readily tear the shirt. Much time is lost in picking up several pieces to see which can be pulled free most easily.

It has been common practice to operate com.- mercial washers. according to a program which calls for reversing of the direction of rotation of the washer cylinder after every three or four revolutions on the theory that pieces dragged into a half' tied knot runningin one direction tend on reversal to be dragged apart again.

Reversin the direction of rotation of the washer cylinder requires the cutting off of the driving force, applying the brake, or allowingthe washer to slow down, re-engaging the driving force in the opposite direction, supplying the energy drive necessary to start the cylinder from rest against the resistanceof the liquid bath,

3 counting the number of revolutions, and repeating the process. While the washer cylinder is slowing down, reversing and picking up speed in the opposite direction, very little washing action takes place. There is a substantial loss of time during the coasting to a stop, the actual stop, and the reverse acceleration.

Washer cylinders according to certain preferred practice are controlled automatically to carr, out certain predetermined programs, which control involves the operation of instrumentalities responsive to the increase in volume of the contents of the washer while the washer cylinder is being rotated. In some instances the control is determined by the liquid level and/or the suds level of the bath, it being remembered that the level of liquid in the washer is influenced by the resence of suds therein. Reversal of rotation of the cylinder adds difficulties to such control of the washing operation for the reason that the revolving cylinder acts as a paddle wheel carrying the liquid up with it on one side, lowering the level at the other side. When the cylinder is rotating the liquid level in the washer is not a horizontal surface, but is an irregular surface. The effect of cylinder reversal is akin to a rising and falling tide level, and a device set to perate when a given level is reached will func tion difierently if the level is reached while the washer cylinder is running in one direction than it will when the washer cylinder is running in the reverse direction. In short, there is a decided advantage in avoiding cylinder reversal during the washing period even though reversal is often required during the rinsing period.

It has been discovered that the textile pieces will not tangle and there is no need for reversal of cylinder rotation as long as detergents are present in the bath. It may be that the soap or other detergent in the bath acts as a lubricant, lowering the coefficient of friction of the fabrics as they slide over each other, so that, for example, if the sleeve of a shirt tends to tangle itself the body of the shirt can drag the sleeve with it without tangling.

The present invention contemplates, therefore, unidirectional rotation of the washing cylinder during the sudsing operations, and reversal of cylinder rotation after every few revolutions when operating in a bath not containing detergents, for example in the rinsing operation.

An object of the present invention is to pro-v vide an improved apparatus for washing textiles in which the mass of fabrics is tumbled in one direction during the washing in a detergent bath and alternately tumbled in opposite directions during the rinsing operations.

A further object is to provide an apparatus for causing a washer cylinder to rotate in one direction only during the sudsing operations and to reverse during the rinsing operations; but which will permit unidirectional rotation during both sudsing operations and rinsing operations when such unidirectional-operation is desired.

In the practice of the present invention that point in the complete laundry process which marks the completion of the cleaning operations and which should be followed by the initiation of the rinsing operations may be determined by any preferred means. The application of John W. Chamberlin, Serial No. 747,841, now abandoned, filed May 13, 1947, as a continuation of Serial No. 398,244, filed June 16, 1941, and Patent 2,430,668, Washing Machine and Automatic Control and Mechanism Therefor, granted November 11, 1947, this patent being a division of Serial No. 398,244, now abandoned, disclose mechanism by means of which the wash liquid is automatically analyzed, and when the analysis indicates that the clothes have been cleaned to the desired extent the mechanism automatically sets in operation certain instrumentalities which perform certain functions, among which are the shutting off of the means for feeding detergent, the dumping of the detergent bath, and the filling of the washer with water up to a predetermined high level, higher than the level of the detergent bath used during the washing operations. This analysis of the wash water according to the Chamberlin applications referred to is accomplished by any one or more of several alternative methods, including the testing of the acidity of the detergent bath, the determination of the cleanliness of the detergent bath by light responsive means, and the testing of the electric conductivity of the detergent bath. Patent 2,422,897 for Art of Cleaning Fabrics, issued to George P. Hebard and Herman E. Sheets, on June 24, 1947, discloses other mechanism for determining the point at which the change fromsudsing operations to rinsing operations is to be made, the mechanism referred to being responsive to the suds within the washer. The applications referred to all disclose instrumentalities energized automatically when the point in the laundry process has been reached when the supply of detergent should be shut off, and said Chamberlin applications disclose instrumentalities for shutting off the supply of detergent, discharging the detergent bath, and filling the washer up to the de sired level for rinsing.

The present invention is not limited to any particular means for determining the point in the washing program when rinsing operations should be initiated. If preferred, that point may be determined according to the judgment of the operator in each individual washing program. It may be stated briefly that apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention should be responsive to the functions of an instrumentalit definitely related to the completion of the sudsing operation and/or the initiation of the rinsing operations.

Referring to the drawings- Figure l is a diagrammatic view of a Washer having control means cooperatively associated therewith for governing the admission of detergent, the admission of water, the discharge of liquid, and switch means for determining whether cylinder rotation shall be unidirectional or shall be reversed; and

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of such switch means for determining whether cylinder rotation shall be uni-directional or shall be reversed which is actuated by the water level in the washer and shows the instrumentalities common to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 for carrying out the change-over from uni-directional rotation to rotation periodically reversed in direction.

Referring first to Figure 1, the numeral l indicates a washing machine, part of the shell thereof being broken away to show a portion of the rotatable cylinder 2 mounted therein, The shell of the machine I is provided with a door la. The cylinder 2 is provided with the door 2a, which may be brought into registry with the door I a for the admission or removal of textile pieces. Said cylinder 2 is carried in trun-nions 3 mounted on the shell of the washer I. Said cylinder 2 is adapted to be driven by the motor 4, which is connected to said cylinder 2 by means of a'belt or sprocket chain disposed within the cover 5. Said motor 4 is connected 'to the three wires of a three-phase electric circuit, to be referred to more in detail presently. V

The washer I is provided with the valve 9 for the admission of detergent, the valve I for the admission of water, and the valve I I for the discharge of liquid. The 'Chamberlin applications, above referred to, disclose control mechanisms operating automatically upon the achievement of certain points in the laundry process to energize certain instrumentalities to control admission of detergent, the shutting off of the'supply of detergent, the admission of water, the shutting off of the supply of water, the opening of the discharge valve and the closure thereof, as well as other functions not pertinent to this particular invention. Such control mechanisms, or any preferred equivalent or modification thereof, are indicated generally in Figure 1 by the numeral I2, which for the purpose of this description will be referred to as a circuit controller. Said circuit controller I2 is adapted to be operated by means of the ratchet motor I3, which is connected to the electric circuit indicated by the wires I4I4 controlled by the switch I5. Said circuit controller I2 is supplied by an electric circuit indicated by the wires I6I6, the circuit controller I2 having the function of controlling the energization or de-energization of a plurality of control circuits. One of the control circuits, adapted to be energized at one stage of operation of the circuit controller I 2, includes the solenoid I I, which controls the detergent valve 9. Another control circuit, adapted to be energized at another stage of operation of the circuit controller I2, includes the solenoid I8 for controlling the water admission valve I0. Another circuit, responsive to the circuit controller I2, includes the solenoid I9 for controlling the discharge valve II. Another circuit, responsive to the circuit controller I2, includes the solenoid 20 for controlling the switch 2I adapted to bridge or unbridge the relatively stationary contacts 2222. Said switch 2I is biased to open position, but under the influence of the circuit control I2 is adapted to b moved to bridging relationship with the contacts 2222 The switch I for controlling the operation of the ratchet motor I3, which in turn operates the circuit controller I2, may be moved in response to the accomplishment of an step, or steps, in the laundry process. For example, said switch I5 may be closed when it has been determined that the clothes in the washer have been cleaned to a pred'eterminedextent, so that the sudsing operations should be discontinued. This point in the to the closing of the detergent valve '9, the operation of the discharge valve I I, and the con-" trol of the water valve ID for rinsing purposes.

In short,'the control system'illustrated in Figure 1 is such that the switch 2I will be moved to closed position when the time has arrived when the sudsing operations should be discontinued, which time has a definite relationship with the time when the detergent valve 9 is moved to closed position, the discharge valve II is opened and closed, and the water admission valve ID is controlled to admit the desired amount of water for rinsing purposes. In other language, the switch 2I is responsive to the operation of control mechanismsuch for example as that illustrated in the Chamberlin or Hebard and Sheets applications aforesaid, and is adapted to be closed at a point or stage in the program having a definite relationship with the moment at which it is determined that the desired degree of cleaning has been had, which moment bears a definite relationship to the operation of the detergent admission valve 9 and to the operation of the water admission valve I0, as well as the operation of the discharge valve I I.

Referring now to Figure 2, a control mechanism is illustrated for controlling the motor 4 to cause-said motor to rotate unidirectionally when the switch H is in open circuiting position and to reverse its direction of rotation after every few revolutions when said switch 2| is in closed position.

The switch 2| according to the disclosure in Figure 2 is illustrated as being responsive tothe level of liquid within the washer I, though as shown in Figure 1 said switch 2| may be controlled directly by the circuit controller I2 quite independently of the liquid level within the washer I. However, for simplicity of disclosure, means have been illustrated for controlling the valve 2I in response to the level of liquid within the washer I. In usual laundry practice a predetermined lower level, indicated by the numeral 23a, is maintained in the detergent bath during the sudsing operations, whereas during the rinsing operations a predetermined higher level, indicated by the numeral 23b, is maintained. According to usual laundry practice, therefore, the predetermined lower level is an incident to the operations in a detergent bath, and the prede termined higher level is incident to the rinsing operations, in which the percentage of detergent in the bath is reduced, progressively or otherwise, toward a limit of zero.

According to the disclosure of Figure 2, a cylinder 24 is connected to the lower portion of the washer I. Said cylinder 24 has a float 24a mounted therein, which is connected to the switch 2 I. When the liquid in the washer I is at the predetermined high level 23b incident to the rinsing operation, the switch 2I is in bridging relationship with the contacts 22-22.

When said switch 2I is in this circuit closing position, whether due to the automatic control I2 is shown in Fig. 1 or the float 24a shown in Fig, 2, the motor 4 will be controlled to impart rotation to the cylinder 2 throughout a few revolutions in one direction alternately with a few revolutions in the opposite direction. When said switch 2I is in open circuiting position said motor 4 will impart unidirectional rotation to said cylinder 2. The instrumentalities for accomplishing the differences in cylinder rotation just referred to will now be described.

The numerals 25. 26 and 21 indicate the three wires of a three-phase electric supply system. A solenoid 28 controls a three-blade switch 28a to connect the three wires of the three-phase supply system to the three wires 29, 30 and 3|. The numerals 34, 35 and 36 indicate three Wires connected to the motor 4. The connections of said three wires 34, 35 and 36 to the wires 29, 30 and 3! are controlled by the three-blade switch 31 (responsive to the solenoid 38) and the three-' blade switch 353 (responsive to the solenoid 40).

As will be explained presently, when said switch 31 is in closed position said switch 39 will be in open position, and, conversely, when said switch 31 is in open position said switch 39 will be in closed position. In other words, solenoids 38' and v4|] will be, alternatively energized and alternatively de-energized. In the system illustrated, wire 36 is connected to wire 3| through either switch 31 or 39. However, .wire'34 is connected to, Wire 29 when switch 31 is closedand is connected to wire 39 when switch 39 is closed; wire 35 is connected to wire 39 whenswitch 31 is closed and is connected to wire 29 when switch 39 is closed. In other words, th alternate operations of switches 31 and 39 result in reversing theconnections of the motor 4 to two of the three wires (29 and'3ll) of the three-wire, three-phase electric supply system 25, 26, 21, thereby causing reversals in the direction of rotation of the rotor of said motor,

The numeral 4| indicates a switch adapted to cooperate with the contact 42 and biased to open circuit position by means of the spring 43. The numeral 44 indicates a switch adapted in its upper position to engage the contact 45 and in its lower position to engage the contact 46. Said switch 44 is biased upwardly b means ofthe spring 41. In other words, said switch 44 is biased to engagement with the contact 45 and out of engagement with the contact 46. Said switch 4| is swung about the aXis-48 and the switch 44 is swung about the axis 49. Said switches 4| and 44 are adapted to be moved in unison by the rod 59 provided with the abutment members and 52. Said rod 50 has sliding engagement with the switches 4! and 44 whereby upward movement of the rod 59 will swing the switches 4| and 44 in a clockwise direction. Said switches 4| and 44 are adapted to be latched in their unbiased positions by means of the latch members 53 and 54 respectively, said latch members 53 and 54 being biased to latching position by the springs 55 and 56 respectively. Said rod 50 may be manipulated by means of the handle 51 swung about the axis 58. Said latching member 53 is provided with the hand grip portion 59 whereby said latching member 53 may be moved manually to unlatching position. Cooperating with the latching member 53 is the solenoid 60, which when energized will move the latching member 53 to unlatching position whereby'the spring 43 may move the switch 4| to open circuit position. The latching member 54 is controlled by the solenoid 6|. The solenoid 6| is connected in a circuit controlled by the switch 2|, As clearly shown in Figure 2, the energization of the solenoid 28 is responsive to the switch 4|, said solenoid 28 being connected in a circuit leading from the wire 26 through the conductor 62 to the,

switch 4 thence through the contact 42 and conductor 63 and solenoid 28 to the wire 25. When the switch 4| has been brought into engagement with the contact 42 the solenoid 28 will close the switch 28a and hold said switch closed, whereby to energize the wires 29, 30 and 3|. 4 Y

The switch 44 when in its lowermost position, that isin its latched position in engagement with the contact 46, completes a circuit which leads from the wire 39 through the solenoid 38, conductor 64, contact 46, switch 44, conductor 65 and conductor 66 to the wire 29. The resulting energization of the solenoid 38 closes the switch 31, which, as noted above, results in energization of the motor 4 for unidirectional rotation, which may be considered for the purpose of this description as being forward rotation. The upper contact 45 cooperating with the switch 44 is connected through the conductor 61 to the switch- 68, which is adapted to be moved into contact either with the contact 69 or contact 10. Contact 69, is connected to the electric timer motor 1|, which through the conductor 12 is connected to the wire 36. When said switch 88 is in engagement with the contact 10, connection is made with the wire 39 through the solenoid 38. V The electric motor 1| is adapted to drive the shaft 13 provided with the two segment members 14 'and 15. 'Said segments 14 and 15 are adapted to provide alternative electrical connections between the shaft 13 and the conductors 16 and 11 respectively. Conductor 18 leads to the solenoid 49' and thence through the conductor 18 to the wire 3!]. Conductor 11 leads to the solenoid 38 and thence to the wire 39. The shaft 13 is connected electrically with the contact 69 through the conductor 6 so that current can flow through the circuits controlled by cams 14, 15 only while the electric motor 1| is running. The solenoid 6| is located in the following circuit across the wires 29 and 30: from wire 29 through conductor 66, switch 2|, conductor 19, solenoid 6|, conductor to the wire 38.

The mode of operationof the above described instrumentalities is substantially as follows:

The clothes to be washed will 'be loaded into the cylinder 2, the door 2a thereof being brought into alignment with the door I a of the washer shell. Water will'be added together with soap or other detergents, This detergent bath will have alevel, as indicated by the numeral 23a in Figure 2, lower than the level used in rinsing operations, which latter level is indicated by the numeral 23b. The operator will swing the handle 51 in a clockwise direction, lifting the rod 50. Collars 5| and 52' will swing the switches 4| and 44 respectively in a clockwise direction into engagement with their respective contact members 42 and 46. 'Latching members 53 and 54 will hold said switches 4| and 44 in the positions just referred to. The operator may release the handle 51, which resumes the position illustrated in- -Figure 2.

Switch 4| has established'a'circuit from the wire 26, conductor 62, through contact 42, conductor 63 and solenoid-28 to the wire 25. Solenoid 28 will be energized toclose the switch 28a and to retain it in closed position. 4

The lower switch completes a circuit from the wire 30-through the solenoid 38, conductor 64, contact 46, switch 44, conductor 65, conductor 66 to wire 29. Energization of the solenoid 38 will close the switch 31. Inasmuch as switches 28a and 31 are now closed, and inasmuch as the closure of switch 31 connects the motor 4 to run in the forward direction, rotation in a forward direction will be communicated to' the" cylinder 2 within the washer After the fabrics have been so treated'in a sudsing operation for the desired length of time,the discharge valve may be opened to discharge the spent detergent bath, after which said discharge valve I may be closed and freshwater and fresh detergent may be added through operation of the valves l0 and 9 respectively. Successive sudsings may be had according to anypreferred program.

The present invention provides means whereby when it has been determined that the sudsing operations should be discontinued and the rins-' ing operations commenced, the unidirectional forward rotation of the cylinder washer 2 will be discontinued and said cylinder washer will be caused to operate with periodic reversals.

Expressed in other language, according to the present invention the sudsing operationis carried on; in a washer wherein-the washer cylinder 2 rotates in onedirection only. During the rins ing operations the direction of rotation ofv the Washer cylinder should be periodically reversed in the case of certain types of washer load, though in the case of other types of washer load unidirectional rotation should be continued.

As indicated above, the moment when the change-over from unidirectional rotation to re.-.

versal of rotation is to be accomplished maybe determined in any preferred way. For example, it may be determined by the functioning of instrumentalities operating automatically, as illustrated in the Chamberlin applications and in the Hebard and Sheets applications aforesaid. Means for determining the moment when the change-over from unidirectional cylinder operation to reversal of cylinder operation is to occur are indicated schematically by the controller I2 (Fig. 1). The time for such change-over may be a moment having a defin'te relationship with the closure of the detergent inlet valve 9 in connection with the last sudsing operation before a rinsing operation is to be initiated, or the moment of change-over may be determined by means responsive to the higher liquid level incident to rinsing operations. If preferred, the time of such change-over may be determined automatically according to the reading of an instrumentality responsive to the amount of detergent in the liquid bath in the washer, or according to the lubricating qualities of said bath.

For simplicity of illustration the mechanism for accomplishing the change-over from unidirectional rotation of the washer cylinder 2 to reversal of rotation thereof has been illustrated in Figure 2 as being responsive to the level of the liquid bath within the washer I, the lower level being incident to the sudsing operations, the higher level being incident to the rinsing operations. At this higher level the float in the cylinder 24 holds the switch 2! in bridging relationship with the contacts 22-22. At lower levels of the bath the switch 2| is out of bridging relationship with said contacts. When the switch 2! bridges the contacts 22-22 instrumentalities are brought into service for causing the cylinder reversal referred to, as follows: Circuit is completed from the wire 29, conductor 66, switch 2!, conductor 79, solenoid Bl, conductor 88 to the wire 30. The

resulting energization of the solenoid 6| causes the release of the switch 44, resulting in the disengagement of switch 44 from the contact 46, thereby de-energizing the solenoid 38, resulting in the opening of the switch 31. Release of the switch 44 causes engagement thereof with the contact 45, thereby establishing a circuit from the wire 29, through conductor 66, conductor 65, switch 44, contact 45, switch 68, contact 65, timer motor ll and line 72, to the wire 3!]. The timer motor is thereby set into operation for rotating the shaft it. The cams l4 and 15 mounted upon said shaft 13 completes circuits alternately from the wire 36, conductor 56 and shaft 13, as follows: (a) through cam 75, conductor 11, solenoid 38 to the wire 30, and (1)) through cam M, ii

conductor 16, solenoid 4B and conductor l8 to the wire 39. Solenoids 38 and 40 will thereby be alternatel energized, resulting in the alternate closure of their corresponding switches 31 and 39, thereby alternately connecting the motor 4 for rotation in opposite directions. Accordingly, during the rinsing operations, the initiation of which is accompanied by the engagement of the switch 2i with the contacts 22-22, the washer cylinder 2 will be periodically reversed, the periods 10. between reversals being determined by the operation of the timer. motor H;

The laundry machinewill continue in its reversal operation until stopped by opening of the switcht4l, which may be accomplished manually by means of the hand grip 59 or automatically by energization of the solenoid 6t. Said solenoid maybe energized in response to any preferred mechanism, as for example in response to the operation of the circuit controller l2 (Fig. 1). Opening of the switch 4| will result in the deenergization of the solenoid 28 and the opening of the main switch 28a.

In many instances it will be preferred to operate the washer cylinder 2 with unidirectional rotation not only during the sudsing operations but during the rinsing operations as well. This is particularl true when the fabric being washed is carried in nets, or where the pieces being washed are of such a rature that they do not have a decided tendency to tangle. The present invention therefore makes provision for the choice of unidirectional operation throughout the washing operation if preferred. For accomplishing this result utilization is made of the switch 68 which is normally in contact with 6%. When the switch 63 is moved upwardly to engage the contact 'lil, the timer motor H and the solenoid 40 are thrown out of circuit, it being remembered that the shaft 13 of th timer motor I! is biased to open circuit relationship with the conductor 16. The solenoid 38 is in circuit whether the switch 44..is in its uppermost or its lowermost position. Accordingly, if unidirectional cylinder rotation is desired throughout the washing period the operator will move switch 68 into engagement with the contact 10, whereby circuit is complete from the wire 29, conductor 55, conductor 85, switch 44, contact 45 or contact 46, depending upon the position of the switch 25, through solenoid 38 to wire 38, In either case the solenoid 38 is energized to hold the switch 31 in closed position for unidirectional forward rotation. Accordingly there will be no reversal in the direction of rotation of the cylinder 2 either during the sudsing operations or the rinsing operations.

Though certain preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended to cover all such modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for washing and rinsing textile pieces, comprising, a washing cylinder mounted on a horizontal aXis adapted to contain the pieces, a shell adapted to contain a bath into which the cylinder dips, an electric motor drive for the. cylinder, supply wires leading to the motor, a solenoid-operated switch between the supply line and the motor adapted to connect the motor for forward rotation, a second solenoid-operated switch also adapted to connect the supply line to produce reverse rotation, a control circuit adapted to be closed by the operator, a solenoid in the control circuit adapted to close said switch giving forward rotation, a float controlled by the level of the liquid in the container adapted to open said control circuit, a second control circuit closed by the opening of the first circuit, automatic means in the second control circuit to alternately energize the solenoids giving forward and reverse rotation.

2. Apparatus for washing and rinsing textile 1 1 pieces, comprising a washing cylinder mounted on a horizontal axis adapted to contain the pieces, a shell adapted'to contain a bath into which the cylinder dips, an electric motor drive for the cylinder, current supply wires, a solenoid-operated switch between the supply wires and the motor adapted to connect the motor for forward rotation, a second solenoid-operated switch also adapted to connect the supply wires to produce reverse rotation, a control circuit adapted to be closed by the operator to close said first named solenoid switch giving forward rotation while the bath remains at a level used for washing, a float controlled by the level of the liquid in the container adapted to open said control circuit when the bath depth is at a level for rinsing, a second control circuit closed by the opening of the first circuit, automatic means in the second control circuit to alternately energize the first and the second solenoid-operated switches alternating giving forward and reverse rotation while rinsing is in progress.

3. In a washing apparatus, in combination, a washer shell, a clothes-containing cylinder mounted for rotation within the shell about a horizontal axis, electrical means adapted to rotate said cylinder in either direction, a timing motor for periodically reversing the direction of rotation, a circuit by-passing said timer to cause the cylinder to be normally rotated in one direction, means for filling the shell to a low level suitable for washing and to a higher level suitable for rinsing, a switch responsive to the rise of the level of the bath from the low to the high level which opens said by-pass circuit and causes the timer motor to function to thereafter periodically reverse the direction of rotation of said cylinder,

4. In a washing apparatus, in combination, a washer shell, a clothes-containing cylinder mounted for rotation within the shell about a horizontal axis, electrical means adapted to rotate said cyilnder in either direction, a timing motor for periodically reversing the direction of rotation, a circuit by-passing said timer to cause the cylinder to be normally rotated in one direction, means for filling the shell to a low level suitable for washing and to a higher level suitable for rinsing, a switch responsive to the rise of the level of the bath from the low to the high level which opens said by-pass circuit and causes the timer motor to function to thereafter periodically reverse the direction of rotation of said cylinder, and manually operated means for maintaining uni-directional rotation regardless of the depth of water by disabling the reversing mechanism.

GEORGE G. GAUBATZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Chamberlin Nov. 11, 1947 

